C100: c100 autofocus upgrade: First proper job using it.

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philwittmer

Member
Hi guys

I just used the dual pixel auto focus upgrade on the c100 on a job for the first time (after testing out beforehand ofcourse)

And being able to glide around with my sigma on both 18mm 1.8 and 35mm 1.8!!!! is absolutely awesome.
It does encourage a bit of centre biased shots but when you get close up you can argue that you can still
hit 3rds by clever framing. (ie maybe the nose, or furthest eye)

Have a look here:

http://www.philwittmer.com/#!Bryce-Kirsty/c10u6/F3191508-4688-4B70-9F3F-98660201F809

I used it in a 24 hour film festival too. 35mm gliding. It only worked for me at f1.8 since it was the sigma but
that was fine. You simply cant get these kind of shots without a remote focus puller other wise. Everyone
was really surprised how much good footage I could do all by myself, and glide... and at a more cinematic focal length
like 35mm rather than super wide all the time. Quick shots were crucial in the 24 hour festival obviously. but in the end
we got a bit too ambitious and the film didnt work out.

anyway, I'm stoked.. (it can make one lazy tho... but used wisely perhaps.. but thats another topic)

cheers,
Phil Wittmer
 
Nice job! I´m still deciding weather to upgrade or not, mainly because of the center focus lock. I´d also wish - since we´re speaking of professional use of AF - that the focus time could be adjusted in some steps, so when you do a slow pan, the focus shift can be set more gentle. Most challenging as always is when needing to focus on people moving towards or away to the cam. Well, this is challenging even for a focus puller, but he does´t have to use photo lenses (hopefully).
Could you maybe shoot a test of this and upload? I know I ask much, but it would help me decide;)
 
Cheers Spartacus!
Well i know for sure already that that scenario you talk about, walking straight towards you, would work just fine. In fact, that's what its best
at. For example, in that movie i just posted, i glide in from far away a few times right up to the subject.. 1 example is her makeup shot
another is when all 4 dudes are doing their scrum pose. That was wide all the way in and at 1.8. So as long as the subject stays in the centre that
will work fine.
I also tested it with 50mm at 1.2 and that was much faster at focusing. SO maybe it's the lenses, when you mention focus speed.
I definitely would be in 'creative' mode going manual at 1.2 which isn't a bad thing either. For both auto and manual at 1.2 thats hand held or shoulder rig for me tho.
During the ceremony it was just too challenging being on tiered ground so all those shots (besides tripod) are hand held with 24-105
 
The giant microphone + stand between two people getting married, real classy!

If your on the edge about the AF upgrade just pull the trigger. It will increase its resale value as other competitors are still a ways off from any type of AF technoloy(Canon hit a home run implementing it in current gen hardware). Controlling the focus time, ramping and speed would be nice but realistically would never beat out a manual focus pull, I'm guessing Canon knew that.

It really is a GREAT feature and welcomed addition to my bag of tricks, I would personally recommend it to anyone!
 
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Try it in combo with the Focus Lock button.

I mean, hold the focus lock button when panning till your new subject is dead center - then release it.
 
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